EMA OF PRAYING WOMAN

Japanese Ema painting wooden board of Woman praying to snake (Dealer: Sezuan antiques & art) – Worshipper’s votive picture of wooden plaque for the Shinto shrine, called Ema (lit. ‘Horse Picture’), as an impressive motif of “Woman praying to snake”. Early Showa period. Signed “Waka Honma, 42 years old, in Katsuura village” by the worshipper herself. Because it’s not a white snake which is often worshipped as deity of Benzaiten (Ugajin), this piece could be more like based on the regional folk belief as a unique masterpiece of Japanese folk art. Tohoku region as its provenance. approx. L 38.5 cm (15.15in)